Visuals misleading consumers? Testing the visual superiority effect in advertising

Purpose The purpose of this study is to test the visual superiority effect in a verisimilar scenario that an industry association seeks to manipulate consumers using a visual element in its ad while providing an ostensibly balanced claim about the potential health effects of stevia. Design/methodology/approach Two experiments were conducted. In Study 1, an online experiment was conducted with a sample of 112 adult consumers using a two-group (headline frame type: gain vs loss), post-test only design with additional planned analysis of an individual difference (i.e. regulatory focus). In Study 2, another online experiment was implemented with a sample of 175 adults using a 2 (headline frame type: gain vs loss) × 2 (image valence: positive vs negative) between-subjects design with additional planned analysis of regulatory focus. The hypotheses were tested by running the PROCESS macro on SPSS. Findings The results showed that when exposed to the advertising message designed to elicit uncertainty, participants relied more on the visual than the textual content (i.e. framed headline and body text) in forming attitude toward the behavior (i.e. consuming stevia). Analysis of cognitive responses also revealed that those who received the stimulus ad with an image added (Study 2) generated significantly fewer thoughts related to the textual content of the ad than those who received the ad with no image (Study 1). Originality/value This study represents one of the earliest experimental inquiries into the visual superiority effect in an advertising context. While earlier studies have tended to rely on dual-processing models to test the effects of advertising stimuli featuring both textual and visual elements, the findings of this study (e.g. visual content overwhelmed its textual counterpart in producing persuasive effects) somewhat contradict the premise of dual-processing models.

Distance Learning and Student Anxiety at Palangkaraya University

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the entire world, including the field of education. Students at the Faculty of Medicine experience anxiety due to distance learning. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the extent to which distance learning affects the anxiety level of students at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Palangkaraya. The research was conducted using a descriptive quantitative design. The population for this study was comprised of all students at the University of Palangkaraya's Faculty of Medicine and 219 individuals. The modified Halmilton Anxiety Rating Scale was used as the research instrument (HARS). The findings indicated that the greatest challenge encountered during distance learning was the absence of direct practical work (39 %). According to the level of anxiety, 141 respondents (64.38%) reported experiencing no symptoms of anxiety, 48 respondents (21.91%) reported experiencing mild anxiety, 22 respondents (10.04 %) reported experiencing moderate anxiety symptoms, and eight respondents (3.67%) reported experiencing severe anxiety. When anxiety symptoms manifest, the behavioral response manifests the highest percentage of mild anxiety symptoms, at 43.83%; the cognitive response manifests at 29.22 %; and the physiological and affective responses manifest at the same rate, at 26.48 %. The moderate and severe anxiety levels indicated that cognitive responses accounted for the highest anxiety response, at 18.27 % and 8.19 %, respectively. The study's conclusion indicates that distance education has a variable effect on the emergence of anxiety in medical faculty students at the University of Palangka Raya. As a result, support from various stakeholders is required to pay attention to the impact of distance learning on students.

Corticosterone Metabolite Concentration Is Not Related to Problem Solving in the Fawn-Footed Mosaic-Tailed Rat Melomys cervinipes

Animals can respond physiologically, such as by adjusting glucocorticoid hormone concentrations, to sudden environmental challenges. These physiological changes can then affect behavioural and cognitive responses. While the relationships between adrenocortical activity and behaviour and cognition are well documented, results are equivocal, suggesting species-specific responses. We investigated whether adrenocortical activity, measured using corticosterone metabolite concentration, was related to problem solving in an Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes). Mosaic-tailed rats live in complex environments that are prone to disturbance, suggesting a potential need to solve novel problems, and have been found to show relationships between physiology and other behaviours. We measured problem solving using five food-baited puzzles (matchbox and cylinder in the home cage, and activity board with pillars to push, tiles to slide and levers to lift in an open field), and an escape-motivated obstruction task in a light/dark box. Faecal samples were collected from individuals during routine cage cleaning. Adrenocortical activity was evaluated non-invasively by measuring faecal corticosterone metabolites using an enzyme immunoassay, which was biochemically and biologically validated. Despite varying over time, adrenocortical activity was not significantly related to problem solving success or time spent interacting for any task. However, as adrenocortical activity is reflective of multiple physiological processes, including stress and metabolism, future studies should consider how other measures of physiology are also linked to problem solving.

More Than a Deadly Virus: COVID-19 and Its Psychological Impact on American and Canadian Dental Practitioners

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected dental professionals, thus contributing to adverse psychological outcomes. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the psychosocial state of American and Canadian dental practitioners, with special emphasis on their affective well-being (both during lockdown and after re-opening), behavioral impact and cognitive responses. Methodology: Dental practitioners in Canada and USA were invited to participate in an online survey after the initial lockdown period. The questions evaluated the pandemic’s effect on affective, behavioral, and cognitive responses. Results: A total of 587 practitioners completed the online survey. The strongest emotions experienced during the lockdown were sadness followed by fear. Female practitioners, those in the 35-44 age group, and those with less work experience reported higher scores on fear. Following lockdown, participants reported higher anticipation. Males expressed higher feelings of disgust and anger during both phases. Canadians were trustful of the situation in both phases of the pandemic, whereas the emotions of Americans were more towards disgust. About 56.7% practitioners provided teledentistry during lockdown, mainly through video calling, with Canadians being significantly more involved than the American participants. The highest scores for participants’ experiences during lockdown were for a lack of social interaction, followed by concern for contracting infection, and stress from distressing media coverage. Most practitioners were very receptive of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusions: The emotions and behaviors of dental practitioners varied significantly during and after the initial lockdown, highlighting their psychosocial state during the pandemic. The scarcity of literature focusing on these basic emotions during similar outbreaks calls attention for pursuing more research in these areas as they significantly contribute to the overall psychological health of professionals, especially in times of crises. Given the emotions reported by dental practitioners, it would be of value to develop standardized protocols and provide remote psychological support during such periods of uncertainty.

How consumer opinions are affected by marketers: an empirical examination by deep learning approach

PurposeThe natural language processing (NLP) technique enables machines to understand human language. This paper seeks to harness its power to recognise the interaction between marketers and consumers. Hence, this study aims to enhance the conceptual and future development of deep learning in interactive marketing.Design/methodology/approachThis study measures cognitive responses by using actual user postings. Following a typical NLP analysis pipeline with tailored neural network (NN) models, it presents a stylised quantitative method to manifest the underlying relation.FindingsBased on consumer-generated content (CGC) and marketer-generated content (MGC) in the tourism industry, the results reveal that marketers and consumers interact in a subtle way. This study explores beyond simple positive and negative framing, and reveals that they do not resemble each other, not even in abstract form: CGC may complement MGC, but they are incongruent. It validates and supplements preceding findings in the framing effect literature and underpins some marketing wisdom in practice.Research limitations/implicationsThis research inherits a fundamental limitation of NN model that result interpretability is low. Also, the study may capture the partial phenomenon exhibited by active reviewers; lurker-consumers may behave differently.Originality/valueThis research is among the first to explore the interactive aspect of the framing effect with state-of-the-art deep learning language model. It reveals research opportunities by using NLP-extracted latent features to assess textual opinions. It also demonstrates the accessibility of deep learning tools. Practitioners could use the described blueprint to foster their marketing initiatives.

DEFINITION MODIFICATIONS FOR TEMPORAL LIGHT MODULATION (“FLICKER”)

Terminology and concepts for temporal light modulation (TLM), commonly known as “flicker,” are defined and used inconsistently, even among researchers. A literature review by the authors has identified multiple meanings for multiple terms, so it is critical that a reader be able to translate from a single article’s definitions to a more universal set. A simple example is that “flicker” is used interchangeably as the stimulus as well as the response to the stimulus, as well as the direct visual response for a specific range of modulation frequencies. This paper endeavours to clarify communication among stakeholders so that effective metrics can be developed to limit unwanted physiological, psychological, behavioural, and cognitive responses to TLM. Changes to the CIE International Lighting Vocabulary are recommended.

Qualitative analysis of the cognitive triad in a sample of the general population in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a profound mental health challenge worldwide. The goal of this paper is to explore cognitive responses to the pandemic in order to better understand underlying beliefs for those reporting and not reporting symptoms of depression within the context of a period of realistic health, economic and social threat. This paper described a cross-sectional survey carried out with a convenience sample from the general population between December 2020 and February 2021. As part of that survey, adult respondents (n=555) were asked to fill in open text box questions which provided prompts of the Cognitive Triad: “I am…/I am not…”; “Others people are…/Other people are not…”; “The world is…”. These qualitative data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Thematic responses between people who screened above and below the cut-off for moderate depressive symptoms showed noticeable overlap, especially in terms of negative cognitions. The largest distinct difference in cognitions was the lack of positively framed cognitions across the cognitive triad in those screening above the cut-off for moderate depressive symptoms. These data highlight the importance of developing a positive cognitive framework to the pandemic, indicating that approaches such as Positive Psychology or Compassion-Focused Therapy which emphasise positive emotions, empathy, and gratitude may be particularly helpful.

The Role of Melatonin on Behavioral Changes and Concomitant Oxidative Stress in icvAβ1-42 Rat Model with Pinealectomy

One of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) associated with its progression that contributes to β-amyloid (Aβ) generation is oxidative stress (OS). Clinical data suggest that melatonin is a potent antioxidant that might be effective in the adjunctive therapy of this neurodegenerative disease. The present study aimed to explore the role of melatonin on behavioral changes and markers of OS in three rat models, namely, pinealectomy (pin) model of melatonin deficit, intracerebroventricular (icv)Aβ1-42 model of AD, and combination of both pin and Aβ1-42 model (pin+icvAβ1-42). The chronic injection with vehicle/melatonin (50 mg/kg, i.p. for 40 days) started on the same day of sham/pin and icv vehicle/Aβ1-42 infusion procedures. Anxiety in the open field and the elevated plus-maze test and cognitive responses in the object recognition test were tested between the 30th–35th day after the surgical procedures. Markers of OS in the frontal cortex (FC) and hippocampus were detected by the ELISA method. Melatonin treatment corrected the exacerbated anxiety response only in the pin+icvAβ1-42 model while it alleviated the cognitive impairment in the three models. Pinealectomy disturbed the antioxidant system via enhanced SOD activity and decreased GSH levels both in the FC and hippocampus. The Aβ1-42 model decreased the SOD activity in the FC and elevated the MDA level in the two brain structures. The pin+icvAβ1-42 model impaired the antioxidant system and elevated lipid peroxidation. Melatonin supplementation restored only the elevated MDA level of icvAβ1-42 and pin+icvAβ1-42 model in the hippocampus. In conclusion, our study reveals that the pin+icvAβ1-42 rat model triggers more pronounced anxiety and alterations in markers of OS that may be associated with melatonin deficit concomitant to icvAβ1-42-induced AD pathology.

What Types of Networks Do Professionals Build, and How Are They Affected by the Results of Network Evaluation?

Background: We aimed to explore what kind of social networks characterizable as “consult/be consulted” are built among healthcare professionals in a community and the impact of providing the professionals with these findings.Methods: We adopted mixed methods exploratory study using social network analysis (SNA) and content analysis. SNA can visualize social network structures such as relationships between individuals. The healthcare professionals were asked about the key persons they consulted and were consulted by concerning these healthcare issues: (1) daily work; (2) a person with acute back pain; (3) a garbage-filled house reported by a neighbor; (4) a person with dementia; and (5) a study meeting. We identified the key roles depending on the issues using SNA. After analysis, the analytical findings were shared with the participants. To explore their cognitive responses, an open-ended questionnaire was delivered and a content analysis was implemented.Results: Of 54 healthcare professional participants, the data of 52 were available for analysis. The findings (in the respective order of the five topics above) were as follows: the number of nodes was 165, 95, 85, 82, and 68; clustering coefficient was 0.19, 0.03, 0.02, 0.11, and 0.23; assortativity was −0.043, −0.11, −0.23, −0.17, and −0.23; reciprocity was 0.35, 0.31, 0.39, 0.29, and 0.48. The top three centralities included nurses. Eighty-seven free comments were received, of which 39 were categorized as descriptive, 10 as analytical, and 38 as critical.Discussion: The structure of “consult/be consulted” networks differed by topic. SNA is available to detect the healthcare resources network and it may have helped them to reflect on their own networks.